There's a first time for everything. After a historical season, novelty skiing — and riding — will be in full effect this Fourth of July in Lake Tahoe. If May skiing didn't satiate your snow appetite, there's more, lots more. The last time I spent the 4th in Tahoe I tubbed down the river, wakeboarded, and hiked. This time, I can do all of the above...and SKI.

Several mountains are cooking up extravaganzas, with Squaw spreading theirs over four days. Here's the lowdown on four mountains but if I missed yours, check their website to see if they're open for the 4th. Unforgettable fun awaits.

Squaw Valley

With record-breaking season snowfall now totaling 810 inches, Squaw currently boasts a 14 foot base and fully snow-covered peaks. Open lifts include: Funitel, Gold Coast, Shirley Lake, Links, Cable Car, and Siberia. You can expect full  Apres style with pool parties, daily BBQs at High Camp, live music, an arts & crafts festival and more. Lift tickets are $49 for adults; $12 for kids 12 and under, and free with a 2011/2012 season pass. Here are complete details and here's the daily rundown.

Friday:

• 10am-6pm. Fine Arts & Crafts festival

• 6-8:30pm. Free KT concert series featuring The Police, Rolling Stones, and U2 cover bands

Saturday:

• Ski and ride: 8am to 2pm
• 10am-6pm. Fine Arts & Crafts festival

• 1-3pm. DJ pool party at High Camp
• 12-2pm. Live music at Gold Coast

Sunday:

• Ski and ride: 8am to 2pm
• 10am-6pm. Fine Arts & Crafts festival

• 1-4pm. DJ pool party at High Camp
• 2-4pm. 21st Annual Lake Cushing Crossing, the resort’s acclaimed pond skimming event
• 7:30-9:15pm. Big Head Todd and the Monsters, alternative blues-rock band on KT Sundeck
• 9:15pm. Fireworks show

Monday:

• Ski and ride: 8am to 2pm
• 1-3pm. DJ pool party at High Camp

Alpine Meadows 

Alpine's "Peak to Shore" event encourages you to ski the Alpine slopes in the AM and paddle board at Homewood's West Shore Café & Inn in the afternoon. For Alpine devotees there will be skiing, boarding, slopeside parties and live music Saturday through Monday. Ride from 9 am to 2 pm then transition to party mode from noon to 4 pm when base lodge fires up the slopeside barbecue, complete with live music and games. 

2011/12 passholders ride and party for free. Pre-purchased holiday weekend lift tickets start at $37 but social media savvy Alpine is hosting a “4th of July Fan Quest” challenge in which guests have a chance to reduce daily rates to $25. For every 1,000 new fans Alpine gains on Facebook until June 30, they will knock $3 off the balance due. Fan at www.facebook.com/AlpineMeadowsSkiResort. Here are complete details.  

Heavenly

For something more family-oriented, visit Heavenly with scenic gondola rides, sightseeing, hiking, rock climbing, ice cream and snow tubing. Tamarack Lodge is home to the highest-elevation, full-service ice cream bar at Lake Tahoe and a brand new 500-foot-long summer tubing hill. Get the  Summer Season Pass for access; adult passes are $52 and children, teens and seniors pay $42. Kids four and under are gratis.

Kirkwood

Arguably the best mountain in South Lake, Kirkwood's opening Chair 6 for Saturday and Sunday festivities. That includes skiing, riding, and hiking. Be aware that Chair 6 is for intermediate to expert only. Chair 6 will be open from 7:30am — 2pm, then BBQs, bars, and live music will take over. On Sunday there will be a fireworks show at 9pm. Here are the full details.

Be safe, be brave, and in the name of your country — shred!

Samantha Durbin (sami.7x7@gmail.com) is a lifestyle writer who honed her blogging skills as Editor of FabSugar.com. Samantha graduated from The Fashion Institute of Technology, also writes for San Francisco magazine and Gilt City, and shares her musings via her poly-blog network, led by SFonFire.